Preparing for (and even taking) a trip with kids can be a bit of a chaotic experience ― so much so that it might even be tempting to wait to travel with them until they’re older.
But parenting experts — and many parents who have gone on trips with kids ― are quick to remind us that there are more perks than downsides for families to go on vacation together.
From helping children be more empathetic to nurturing their natural curiosity, travel has a profound impact on younger kids and can help them grow in ways that many of us overlook. We talked to some travel and parenting experts who weighed in on several ways traveling helps enrich a child’s life:
Traveling gives them a chance to learn as a family.
Traveling as a family can create a unique opportunity for bonding since you’re all experiencing something new together.
“In many ways, it may be the first time your child sees you, the parent, actively learning, adapting and even problem-solving in real time,” said Gia Gambaro Blount, a parent education and child development instructor in Los Angeles. “Unlike day-to-day routines, where your children often look to you for guidance, travel gives you the chance to learn alongside them.”
Whether it’s discovering new foods, hearing different languages or exploring unfamiliar places, everyone is having these novel experiences at the same time. You’ll also be able to troubleshoot together as a family if hiccups arise.
It gives them the ability to roll without routines.
Breakfast, lunchtime, snacks, naps, dinner, bedtime ― routines are great for keeping the days running smoothly. But traveling gives kids a chance to experience spontaneity and learn to be flexible.
“Traveling often means changes in sleep, eating and daily rhythms, and that’s OK,” Blount said.
Letting go of some of that structure can allow you and your child to embrace the adventure and unpredictability of travel.
“The routines will still be there when you get home, but the shared experiences and lessons learned from navigating the surprises of a trip together will stay with your family long after you return,” Blount said.
And sometimes, it’s in those unplanned moments where the real magic happens.
“Foods that may be unfamiliar, different languages, and environments that may present them with novel sounds, smells and sights can also provide kids with a chance to strengthen their ability to adapt and embrace change,” said Michelle Felder, a licensed clinical social worker, parenting coach and founder of Parenting Pathfinders.
Traveling expands kids’ worldview.
When kids have a chance to travel, they are given opportunities to experience different cultures, traditions and lifestyles.
“It can be powerful for them to be able to spend time with people who may look different than them, speak other languages, live in different environments or have different customs than they do. But that may play, laugh, hope, love and value their family or community just like they do,” Felder said.
Taking trips can help kids recognize that the world is interconnected and offer them a step toward building empathy and embracing diversity.
It gives them a chance to fully immerse themselves in a new place.
“Traveling with children is a fully immersive experience that activates all the senses in a way nothing else can,” Blount said.
Your child may have a love for animals, but there is nothing like the ability to immerse oneself in a place that interests them firsthand.
“You can read books or watch documentaries about safaris, but it’s never the same as feeling the heat of the sun on your skin, smelling the earth after rain or getting goosebumps when you see a wild animal right in front of you,” Blount said. “These experiences shape a child’s worldview, expanding their understanding and perspective in ways that last a lifetime.”
Oscar Wong via Getty Images
It fosters a sense of curiosity.
Sticking a toe in the ocean when they live in a landlocked place, taking a train when their city doesn’t have much public transit ― a vacation inspires children to ask so many questions and dig deeper into how things are done differently around the world than in their hometown.
“Traveling has the power to ignite a child’s curiosity and provide them with opportunities to learn new things through real-life experiences,” Felder said. “Whether they’re visiting historical landmarks, interacting with locals or exploring nature, these moments expose kids to different perspectives, information and ideas, which can naturally spark their curiosity and prompt them to ask new questions.”
Traveling inspires kids to make a positive mark on the world.
“Traveling can help kids become more aware of the different experiences that people have and can shed light on how they could help to make the world a better place,” Felder said. “It may be through exposure to new people and places that a child becomes inspired to care for the environment, fight for social justice, or somehow become an active agent of change in the world.”
Whether it’s wanting to find ways to use less plastic to protect the ocean or raising funds for disaster relief, children who travel may return home with a newfound inspiration to help make the world a better place.
It gives them the opportunity to live in the moment.
With video games, sports and every streaming service at their fingertips, kids are used to being constantly entertained. But travel gives them the ability to scale back and fully immerse themselves in the moment.
“I’ve seen kids who were glued to their phones suddenly ditch screens to chase crabs or learn to fish from an old man in a tiny coastal town,” said Wayne Kask, a travel expert and the founder and CEO of Always on the Shore.
Kask also recalled an instance where he saw a young girl find entertainment in a small patch of rocky shore on a beach: “Most people avoided it, sticking to the soft sands, but she spent hours there, turning over rocks, finding shells and quietly observing little marine creatures. She was in her element, completely engrossed in a world that others didn’t bother to look at.”
It gives them organizational skills.
When taking a trip, kids learn everything from how to create and manage a schedule to packing for trips and organizing their belongings in a hotel.
“My children have been taught how to properly pack for a trip depending upon the destination, create a list, and most importantly, manage what they are bringing on the trip itself,” said Vanessa Gordon, the publisher of East End Taste magazine and a frequent family traveler.
Traveling boosts kids’ confidence and resilience.
“When kids face new environments, whether it’s navigating unfamiliar streets or engaging in activities like hiking or kayaking, they learn to adapt,” said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments.
Navigating new cities, reading maps and ordering food in markets gives kids a sense of pride and achievement.
“They realize they can roll with changes, and that confidence follows them home,” said Lucia Polla, a travel expert who runs Viva La Vita, a blog about the hidden treasures of southern Spain.
With travel, Polla has witnessed children become more resilient and willing to take risks.
“They start to understand people from all walks of life,” she added.
These experiences push kids outside their comfort zones and help them realize they can handle new challenges. This also enables them to strengthen their problem-solving skills and boost their resilience.
